Cisco Loses a Second High-Level Thinker

Big Silicon Valley companies have long served as springboards for entrepreneurs, and Cisco Systems is no exception. Chief futurist Dave Evans is the latest to try his hand at a new opportunity.

Evans, a 24-year veteran who joined as employee 398 of the network-equipment vendor, says on his LinkedIn page that he is now co-founder and chief technology officer of “a Silicon Valley stealth start-up.” He didn’t disclose its name or plans.

“I can confirm that Dave Evans is leaving the company to pursue a new entrepreneurial opportunity,” a Cisco spokesman said. “We are sorry to see him go.”

Evans is regarded as one of the Cisco executives who helped signal the importance of a technology movement called the Internet of Things, which the company describes with an even broader term, the Internet of Everything. CEO John Chambers has become one of the biggest public proponents of the concept, which refers to embedding computing and communications capability in most everyday devices.

He is the second departure reported this month among Cisco executives associated with such efforts. The other is Guido Jouret, who was the vice president and general manager of the Internet of Things business unit.

Jouret, who spent 20 years at Cisco, didn’t initially disclose his next career move. But late Wednesday the Chinese solar- and wind-power company Envision Energy announced that it had named Jouret as the president of a new global digital innovation lab in Silicon Valley.

In a letter, Jouret said he was moved by the opportunity to help address issues affecting the future of life on the planet.

“By 2030, the world will need 40% more energy and 50% of people will struggle to find clean, fresh sources of drinking water. Half the ground water in China is unsafe to drink. Sadly, the list goes on. We need more innovation focused on solving these problems.”

Jouret said that besides directing Envision’s Silicon Valley lab, he will oversee a $100 million investment fund, drive technology strategy and make acquisitions.